Govt won't bypass 'due process' to implement NAB Ord: Firdous.

Islamabad: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Tuesday said the government will not bypass the due process to implement the newly promulgated National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019.

"The new NAB law enforced through a presidential ordinance last week will be placed before the parliament where debate will be held on it. For the law to be passed through Senate, it is important for the opposition to come on board. But the government will not bulldoze this entire process to forcefully implement the law," she told a press conference after the federal cabinet meeting. She criticized the opposition parties' hypocrisy, saying they had been demanding amendment in the NAB laws for the last 11 years which has been carried out by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government. "They are in fact overjoyed, but they are doing politics over the issue," she said. "The ordinance will be tabled in parliament and the opposition parties, if they want, can propose changes to it there," she added.

Dr Firdous said the cabinet observed that the ordinance will facilitate the business community and pave way for investment in the country resulting in more job opportunities. She said although it is the opposition's right to criticise, the attitude adopted by it over the law is 'inappropriate'.

Dr Firdous revealed that prior to the cabinet meeting, an in-camera briefing was held during which detailed discussions took place on the accountability laws. She said Prime Minister Imran Khan while addressing the business community reiterated that he had 'picked the thorns out of their way' through the NAB ordinance.

Updating about the decisions taken by the cabinet, Dr Firdous said the government will launch Rs 6 billion subsidy programme in the first week of January to provide essential items, including flour, rice, edible oil and pulses, to the people through Utility Stores Corporation (USC) at affordable prices.

She said the cabinet in its last meeting of the outgoing year chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan discussed in detail the priorities set for the new year. It also discussed the achievements of government despite various challenges faced in the outgoing year.

Dr Firdous said the Financial Assistance Card (FAC) was being launched in last week of next month for the deprived and unprivileged segments of the society to provide them financial assistance, while their health needs will be met through the Sehat...